Jeremy Pruitt bristles at cornerback being a need for Vols football

If you think cornerback was a need in Tennessee’s recruiting class, don’t tell Jeremy Pruitt.

The Vols coach shot down and even bristled at the notion that the roster needs playmakers on the defensive perimeter Wednesday.

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt during the Signing Day new conference on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

“Who said cornerback was a need in this class?” Pruitt said during his signing day press conference. “To me, I know some of the guys on our team. We’ve got guys to me that can play cornerback. I think all those guys can play multiple spots. I feel like we addressed our needs at that position.”

Pruitt and his staff’s early recruiting efforts when they arrived in Knoxville indicated cornerback was high on their priority list, as they set their sights on a handful of top corners. Their main targets appeared to be California products Olaijah Griffin and Isaac Taylor-Stuart – the nation’s No. 3 and No. 4 cornerbacks, respectively, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Both signed with Southern California on signing day Wednesday. Four-star Taiyon Palmer announced for N.C. State and signed with the Wolfpack and three-star Eddie Smith signed with Alabama after a long flirtation with the Vols.

Tennessee signed and announced only one defensive back in its 2018 class: Trevon Flowers, who flipped from a Kentucky baseball commit to a Tennessee football commit. Pruitt said he believes Flowers can play anywhere in the secondary.

Louisiana product Brandon Davis and Chattanooga native Joseph Norwood both have announced commitments to the Vols. Tennessee did not announce either as a signee and Pruitt noted he cannot discuss recruits who have not signed a national letter of intent when asked about Norwood.

Some help for Tennessee’s cornerback needs could come from the current roster, though, as wide receiver Tyler Byrd was regarded by many as a top cornerback recruit out of high school. Pruitt did not specifically address Byrd on Wednesday, but did say the Vols could have several players changing positions this spring.

“There might be several of them once we get out there and start running around a little bit and get a chance to evaluate folks,” Pruitt said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to find a way to get your best 22 on the field. … We will see when we get out here and run around a little bit in winter conditioning and probably find out a little bit more about it here in spring ball.”

Pruitt indicated the Vols will continue looking to add to the roster, but “are definitely going to be under” the NCAA allowed scholarship limit of 85 in the fall.

“If you look at our entire team, there’s needs at every position when it comes to depth,” Pruitt said. “We are going to look at the possibility of recruiting guys on through the spring. We will look at grad transfers and see where that goes.”

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt during the Signing Day new conference on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.